Labyrinths are thousands of years old. The most famous of all is surely the one that King Minos had Daedalus build to imprison the Minotaur – and if there is any truth to this myth, it is its age. According to Greek mythology, this labyrinth was so complicated that the only way its own architect found to exit it was to fly.
Thousands of years later, labyrinths still appear in our culture – either on paper or in the form of mazes. Their design has evolved over the years, as dozens were built in Roman, Renaissance and Baroque times. However, the largest – if you ignore the legendary labyrinths at Knossos – is less than a decade old. But we’re not sure it’s any easier to find a way out than in the Minotaur’s.
The story behind the colossal labyrinth
Contrary to what the name might suggest, the“Labirinto della Masone” is not just a maze, but an entire cultural park. It is located in the province of Parma, an hour and a half from Milan, and was built at the request of Franco Maria Ricci. The famous Italian graphic designer, editor and publisher had long been looking for a place to house his publishing house’s art collection. He only discovered his passion for labyrinths after meeting the famous Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges, who was also a connoisseur of the Minotaur legend.
However, a final project was not drawn up until 2005: It envisaged the construction of a bamboo labyrinth and buildings to house the art collection and other objects on Ricci’s estate near Fontanellato. For the design of the labyrinth, he commissioned an architect who was inspired by Roman mosaics and the architectural style of the Renaissance.
The first bamboo trees were planted in the summer of 2005, while construction of the buildings began in 2010. The work was completed in 2015 and the “Labirinto della Masone” was inaugurated in the same year.
The design of the largest labyrinth on earth
There are three known forms of the classical labyrinth: the Cretan, the Roman and the Christian. The Roman labyrinth is built at right angles and divided into quarters – so it actually consists of four smaller, interconnected mazes. All of the aforementioned labyrinths consist of a single path that loops towards the center. And this is exactly what makes the “Labirinto della Masone” so special.
The architect has cleverly incorporated a few small traps such as dead ends and additional branches along the 3 kilometers of internal paths. Another detail that distinguishes this labyrinth are the more than 200,000 bamboo plants that form the walls of the paths. There are twenty different species, from dwarf bamboo to giant bamboo. But why use bamboo instead of traditional hedges? Because it is an extremely fast-growing plant that does not get sick, does not shed its leaves in winter and absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide.
This in turn has made the labyrinth more difficult to navigate: the height of the labyrinth and the proximity of the paths mean that there is very little sunlight to guide you to explore the labyrinth easily. Many paths are tunnels. Quick exits are rare. A pyramid-shaped chapel also awaits in the center of the maze, reflecting the close connection between labyrinths and religious belief throughout history.
The inspiration for the internal design of this Italian labyrinth may be Roman, but not for its external form: It is based on the architecture of the eight-pointed stars of the bastions used during the Renaissance – in this particular case on the fortified towns such as Palmanova or Sabbioneta.
The Masone Labyrinth complex also includes cultural spaces, Ricci’s art collection and art library, as well as a bar and two restaurants. To enter the labyrinth, tickets can be booked via the website.